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Understanding Special Education Series
September 2024
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Understanding Special Education Series : Process and parental rights
Date: Thursday, September 5, 2024 — 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CTLocation: Online Web StreamingThis first workshop in a series of three will provide parents with an introduction to understanding the special education process and an overview of parental rights. It will include a discussion of the six main principles of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Attending each workshop in the series is recommended. -
Life Planning Series : Special and supplemental needs trusts and ABLE accounts
Date: Monday, September 9, 2024 — 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM CTLocation: Online Web StreamingThis workshop will focus on Powers of Attorney, health care directives, maintaining eligibility for government benefits, Special and Supplemental Needs Trusts, and ABLE accounts. This workshop will address the unique challenges facing families and individuals as they begin their transition into adulthood. Presented by Roger Strege, CES(c), president of Special Needs Planners, a financial planner, and Certified Estate and Trust Specialist™. Attendance at both workshops in the series is encouraged. -
Understanding Special Education Series : Evaluation and eligibility for services
Date: Thursday, September 12, 2024 — 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CTLocation: Online Web StreamingThis second workshop in a series of three will define special education evaluations, explain their process and receiving the results, and provide an understanding of options moving forward. It will also discuss eligibility for special education services. Attending each workshop in the series is recommended. -
Life Planning Series : Supported decision-making and guardianship
Date: Monday, September 16, 2024 — 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM CTLocation: Online Web StreamingThis workshop will address the consideration and purpose of supported decision-making and guardianship, with a focus on the details of the legal procedures. It will include a discussion about what changes for the parents and their child regarding legal rights and authority when the child reaches age 18, and what parents should consider about providing support for their son or daughter into adulthood. Presented by Joseph P. Kukla, esq., Thiel, Anderson, Kukla, and Gunderson, LLP. Attendance at both workshops in the series is encouraged. -
Communication with your Individual Family Service Plan team members
Date: Tuesday, September 17, 2024 — 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM CTLocation: Online Web StreamingThis workshop will educate parents of children with disabilities (age birth to three years) on Individual Family Service Plans (IFSP). Participants will learn skills to help them effectively communicate with other members of the IFSP team and advocate for the needs of their child to be reflected adequately in the plan. -
Tech for Teens Club : Intro to coding
Date: Tuesday, September 17, 2024 — 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM CTLocation: Online Web StreamingThis virtual workshop will introduce teens with disabilities to the fundamentals of coding using MIT's Scratch online software. Participants will create interactive games and stories while developing basic programming skills. This workshop is designed for students with basic computer skills, but no previous coding knowledge is required. Students of all abilities are encouraged to attend. -
Understanding Special Education Series : The IEP
Date: Thursday, September 19, 2024 — 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CTLocation: Online Web StreamingThis final workshop in the series will review the ten parts of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) and dive into understanding its goals, services, and accommodations. It will also include a brief overview of the Prior Written Notice (PWN). Attending each workshop in the series is recommended. -
Beyond keyboards: Alternative tools for controlling your computer
Date: Tuesday, September 24, 2024 — 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM CTLocation: Online Web StreamingKeyboards and mice are great tools to control computers, but do not work for everyone. In this workshop, we'll explore many alternative ways to control computers and mobile devices. Tools will include voice control, switches, adaptive mice, keyboards, and more. We'll demonstrate several simple and complex setups to make accessing your computer easier. -
Tech for Teens Club : Code your own website
Date: Tuesday, September 24, 2024 — 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM CTLocation: Online Web StreamingThis workshop will introduce teens with disabilities to the basics of coding for the internet with HTML and CSS. Students will create their own unique website and publish it using a free online tool at Glitch.com. Students will be able to experiment with code and see the results online in real time. -
The critical role of interpreters in special education meetings
Date: Wednesday, September 25, 2024 — 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM CTLocation: PACER Center - Map and AddressHosted by PACER Center's multicultural advocates, this training is designed for language interpreters who support families of children with disabilities in special education meetings. Participants will learn about language access laws, strategies for supporting parent engagement in special education meetings, and ethical considerations when interpreting for parents and school staff. -
Advocating for your child with significant healthcare needs
Date: Thursday, September 26, 2024 — 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM CTLocation: Online Web StreamingParents and guardians of children or young adults with significant health care needs bring a wealth of information to their health care team. Combining your personal knowledge with advocacy skills can help ensure that your child or young adult receives the best quality of care. This workshop will review using service plans (IHPs, IEPs, and 504Plans) as advocacy tools, understanding the roles of the medical team supporting your child or young adult, and provide possible solutions for common problems. -
Working towards positive educational outcomes: Mental health and special education
Date: Thursday, September 26, 2024 — 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CTLocation: Online Web StreamingThis introductory workshop will provide parents and others with information to help them understand the special education process, how to prepare for a positive Individualized Education Program (IEP) team approach to support their child’s mental health needs, and how to navigate IEP team disagreements.Working towards positive educational outcomes: Mental health and special education - Register for this workshop
This workshop is funded in part by a grant from the Minnesota Department of Education.
October 2024
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Special education paperwork and the Prior Written Notice
Date: Thursday, October 10, 2024 — 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CTLocation: Online Web StreamingThis workshop will help parents learn about the purpose of paperwork, what needs to be kept and for how long, and everything they need to know about the Prior Written Notice (PWN). -
Addressing challenging behaviors
Date: Wednesday, October 23, 2024 — 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CTLocation: Online Web StreamingAcademic, behavioral, and social expectations can overwhelm students with mental health, emotional, or behavioral needs and increase challenging behaviors. This workshop will provide information and resources to help parents support their child or youth with challenging behaviors at home, at school, or in the community. -
Assistive technology for reading
Date: Thursday, October 24, 2024 — 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM CTLocation: Online Web StreamingThis workshop will demonstrate assistive technology to help with all stages of reading. It will explore apps and tools to help with learning the basics, minimizing the effects of dyslexia, and more. -
Effective communication with the IEP team
Date: Thursday, October 24, 2024 — 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CTLocation: Online Web StreamingThis workshop will teach parents how to effectively collaborate with their child’s IEP team. Participants will learn how to have productive discussions at IEP meetings and engage in their child’s educational planning. -
Tech for Teens Club : Introduction to soldering
Date: Saturday, October 26, 2024 — 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM CTLocation: PACER Center - Map and AddressIn this introduction to soldering workshop, participants will explore soldering basics using a soldering iron and heat gun. Participants will also gain hands-on experience by assembling a weevil with light-up eyes that they can take home.
November 2024
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Assistive technology for writing
Date: Thursday, November 14, 2024 — 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM CTLocation: Online Web StreamingThis workshop will explore assistive technology to help with various writing skill levels. Participants will look at apps that help with different writing stages from drafting to revising, along with learning the basics and various digital and voice options. -
Using Chrome extensions to support reading
Date: Tuesday, November 19, 2024 — 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM CTLocation: Online Web StreamingThis workshop will explore Chrome extensions (apps) that provide support for reading with a Chromebook or the Google Chrome browser. It will address visual supports, literacy skills, and text-to-speech. Attendance is recommended for middle school through college students with dyslexia and other learning challenges, including ADHD. -
Creating an evaluation plan for your child with mental health needs
Date: Wednesday, November 20, 2024 — 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CTLocation: Online Web StreamingThis workshop will teach parents of children with mental health needs what to expect from the special education evaluation process. Participants will work through a sample evaluation plan that will help them to create a list of their concerns and provide them with a better understanding of how to ensure those concerns are addressed in their child’s evaluation.
December 2024
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Accessibility Series : iPhone and iPad
Date: Thursday, December 12, 2024 — 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM CTLocation: Online Web StreamingiPhones and iPads have many accessibility settings built-in to their operating systems. This workshop will teach participants about different ways to modify these Apple devices to make them more accessible, including voice control, text-to-speech features, head tracking, and more.